CAPITALISM'S ACHILLES HEEL Dirty Money and How to

PROBLEMS
The Joys of Jeremy Bentham 309
What Bentham and Mill built came to be known as “classical” or “strong”
utilitarianism. In this form the philosophy presented a number of serious
problems.
1. With its singular focus on maximizing society’s sum of advantages,
the philosophy is often charged with advocating that ends justify
means. In Chapter 3, I wrote “sometimes, yes,” ends do justify
means when dealing with situations that pose difficult choices. But
strict utilitarianism responds differently to such alternatives and says,
“nearly always, yes.” The end, the consequence, of an act is the appropriate
basis for judging the correctness of the means utilized to
reach the end. With the possible exception of setting a precedent that
could be harmful in future situations, current outcomes outweigh
other considerations. There is little if any room for intuitive ethical
presuppositions or traditional religious teachings that limit freedom
of choice. The calculation leading to maximizing advantage or happiness
is the appropriate frame of reference for evaluating options.
2. Utilitarianism does not offer an answer as to which aspects of advantage
or happiness across the whole society are to be maximized. With
competing concerns, how are we to make choices among peace, security,
liberty, justice, standard of living, health, pleasure, and the balance
between current needs and future obligations? For example, is
economic growth to be maximized in preference to environmental
protection, or should global warming and greenhouse gasses be attacked
even at the expense of economic growth? Utilitarianism’s simple
answer—the greatest good—offers only marginal assistance in
negotiating through complex choices.
3. Strict utilitarianism is often charged with discounting motive and intent.
If you meant well with an act of kindness or charity but the
consequences turned out badly, those consequences are the preferred
basis for judging your action, rather than the original content of your
objective.
4. Critics of strict utilitarianism contend that it gives inadequate weight
to promises and commitments. If a promise given in the past no